The speakers that intrigue me most are those giant horn loudspeakers that probably don’t even have a price tag. I’d need to buy the house next door and knock through to even accommodate them , but would love to hear a pair.
I’ve not heard the Sopras but I have heard Micro Utopias, Diablos and Kantas in the Focal ranges. They aren’t for everyone but looking at the amplification you tried with Sopras I’m not surprised. I’ve not enjoyed Naim or McIntosh with any speakers (not heard Accuphase) so the clue might be in the amps……
I'm really curious to try the Naim Ovator S800 speakers. I hope they're nothing like Focals which I've heard at shows and demos (generally thin with a scratchy top end imho). I'm hoping they may be a bargain S/H as they were discontinued over 10 years ago, they would have to be the active version with the associated external crossover. They are a two-way design and were just under £30K new, I wonder if a pair could be had for under 10K.
What HiFi, 10 years ago described these S800 as: 'an imposing loudspeaker designed for the owner with a larger than average room and one who appreciates music played with a natural sense of scale and dynamics'
2022-01-09_11-12-25
I think I know what you mean. When Linn dropped their original speaker lineup for the new stuff, I had many demos, all were very unsatisfying, the new lineup had no character or a particular aspect that really grabbed at your wallet. Perhaps the Naim S-series were a similar move by Naim to a characterless sound. Kudos would be where I'd start auditioning these days. Focal and Linn would be nowhere on my list.I wanted to move from Naim SBLs to S400s but I thought the S400s were very boring.
I commented as such to a glowing What HiFi review of S400s.
My response was deleted within a few weeks.
I had thought of adding some comments to a Cyrus review in What HiFi.
It seems very product they release gets a predictably stunning review.
It was only then I realised they have been a major advertiser in the magazine over many years (decades).
I've regarded What HiFi reviews in a different light since.